Pittsburgh man charged in New York torture-murder case

CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. — A Pittsburgh man is charged alongside two other men in connection to the kidnapping, torture and murder of another man in southern New York.

Malik Weems, 18, of Pittsburgh, was indicted with first-degree murder, four counts of kidnapping, and four counts of assault by a grand jury in Chemung County, with Eddie Marte, 25, of New York City, and Thomas Bovaird, 21. Police said the three men were responsible for the death of Juan Jose Gotay, 38, of New York City.

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According to WETM, the three allegedly shot Gotay in his leg and shoulder, beat him causing head injuries, broke his ribs and fingers, stabbed his eyes with a pointed instrument, partially cut off his tongue, burned his ears and buttocks causing “protracted disfigurement”, tied him up with an electrical cord and left him to die in a remote area of Pennsylvania.

Gotay’s body was found in Ulysses Township, Potter County, in April.

Weems and Marte were also charged with the kidnapping of Joseph Waters in early April 2021. Police said they had intended to ransom him, and allegedly restrained him for more than 12 hours.

According to WETM, Marte, Weems, and a third man were also arrested in late April for a kidnapping and torture case in Ontario County. It is unclear if this case is connected to the kidnapping of Waters or Gotay, and the third man arrested has not been named in connection to the Chemung County investigation.

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